Compacts Aftermath: Dismay and Feelings of Betrayal

Well, the compacts are passed and no literal blood was shed, but a lot of people are pretty upset. The reluctance of Arnold to re-negotiate the compacts, despite Democratic opposition lead to two options for the Assembly Democrats. They had to try and get what were little more than fig leafs on labor protections, or scrap the whole thing, risking the wrath of the tribes. They went for the former. Now what?

Well, perhaps a ballot campaign. LAT:

Jack Gribbon, California political director for Unite Here, a union that organizes casino and hotel workers, said he and other union leaders are considering asking voters to undo the agreements. To qualify a repeal measure for next February's presidential primary ballot would probably require gathering 400,000 signatures in 90 days, he said.

"The discussions are very serious," Gribbon said.

No doubt they are. We will wait and see what ends up happening. There have been indications that this has been coming for a while. I doubt that yesterday was the first time that this option was discussed.

As for that political calculation Nunez made, the Chronicle pulled no punches today.

The standoff between the two groups had placed Núñez in a politically precarious position of having to choose between his political base in labor or mollify tribes that have not been shy about using their deep pockets to buoy or sink political campaigns.

Núñez supports a proposed ballot initiative that would extend his own term in the Assembly beyond 2008. His chief political consultant is heading a signature-gathering effort to place the measure on the presidential primary ballot in February.

Needless to say labor leaders had a few choice words on the subject. Here is Art Pulaski talking about Nunez:

"We're certainly dismayed that he would abandon (what will be with the casino expansions) 100,000 low-wage workers. He came from modest beginnings himself and he should know better," he said.

Pulaski also said while labor unions have not taken an official position on the term-limits measure, it would be difficult to ask workers to campaign on behalf of the initiative.

Gibbons called it "an unbelievable betrayal of cold, political calculation for campaign dough".

People above my pay grade in the labor movement will be making decisions about resource allocations. This turn of events is likely to have an influence on the end results. If UNITE-HERE goes forward with an initiative, I will be tracking it here.